Baysox's Davies defying baseball conventions with rapid rise

A lot of baseball people probably look at Bowie Baysox pitcher Zach Davies and think, "If only …"

As in, "If only he were a couple of inches taller and a couple of pounds heavier." Or "If only he were left-handed."

But Davies, 21, isn't either. He's a 6-foot, 155-pound right-handed pitcher whose fastball typically sits in the modest 89-to-92-mph range. Scouts and executives prefer their right-handers big and strong (Roger Clemens) or long and lean (Jim Palmer). They'll take a chance on a smallish lefty (Jamie Moyer) but only because southpaws are such a treasured baseball asset.

You can find some successful right-handers of regular human proportions – guys like the Giants' Tim Lincecum or the Reds' Mike Leake – but they're the exception, rather than the rule.

Davies, who has continued his rise through the Orioles' minor-league system this season, wants to be another exception to the rule. His numbers indicate that might be possible.

Davies is 10-7 with a 3.03 ERA in 17 starts this season. He missed some time earlier in the year after getting hit by a line drive and also suffered through a bout of shoulder tendinitis. But he's bounced back nicely, going 7-3 in his last 10 starts with an ERA of 2.23.

Davies' string of strong pitching performances has helped ease the pain of Tyler Wilson's mid-season promotion to Triple-A Norfolk. Wilson went 10-5 with a 3.72 ERA in 16 starts before moving up.

"He's been a big story for us," Bowie manager Gary Kendall said. "After losing Wilson, we really needed somebody to step up. You take away those first couple outings and he's been an all-star caliber pitcher."

Kendall isn't the only one who has noticed. Davies has been chosen to represent the Orioles in the Arizona Fall League, a selection reserved for only the most promising prospects in an organization's minor-league system. For Davies, it's an honor well-deserved.

"For me, it's been a great year," Davies said. "I'm glad the Orioles gave me the opportunity to prove myself up here. Early on, I got hit and had a few injuries. But getting in a groove and getting in rhythm … was great for me.

"I know it's a big jump from A-ball to Double–A, but I know the baseball knowledge I have is gonna help me. I've relied on that and I've relied on executing my pitches and not making mistakes."

Therein lies the explanation for Davies' success. He took to baseball at an early age, even though he wasn't very big. His own father, whose career ended at the junior college level because of succession of injuries, was determined to teach Zach as much as he could about the game.

They'd watch pitchers on batters on television, the father quizzing the son on counts, approach, pitch selection. That understanding of the game – plus some tutorials from '80s Oriole journeyman pitcher Eric Bell, who lived nearby the family's Arizona home – made Davies a young pitcher wise beyond his years. And, it enabled him to evolve into someone who could get batters out, even if he wasn't exactly intimidating on the mound.

Davies possesses an outstanding change-up, which – by comparison – makes his fastball look that much faster. The numbers he has compiled so far are a testament to his composure and intelligence on the mound. In his three seasons with the Orioles, his strikeout ratio has risen each year – even as the competition has grown more challenging. He fanned 7.18 batters per nine innings at Delmarva in 2012, 7.98 per nine innings at Frederick last year and 8.82 per nine innings this season at Double-A. Start by start, he's overcoming the prejudices he faced by being a 26th-round pick -- and not being three inches taller or throwing with the other arm.

"I've heard that a lot," Davies said. "But this is what I have, so this is what I've got to use. I know I get overshadowed. It doesn't bother me. If they give me the opportunity, I'm gonna show I'm worth it."

WHAT'S NEXT: The Baysox visit Richmond and Erie this week before returning home for the final homestand of the 2014 season. The team closes out the campaign with a four-game set at Prince George's Stadium against Altoona, with games Friday through Labor Day.